The Pechersk Court has kept Igor Zotko in custody, despite the guarantees provided by Heroes of Ukraine, according to media reports.

The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv has decided to impose a preventive measure for Igor Zotyko, the owner of one of the largest licensed gambling companies in Ukraine. The court ruled to keep the entrepreneur in custody during the pre-trial investigation, as reported by Ukrainian News.

This decision was made despite several respected individuals, including Heroes of Ukraine, expressing their willingness to stand as guarantors for Igor Zotyko.

Public figures, business representatives, and military personnel have voiced their trust in Zotyko, highlighting his significant contribution to the economy and the country's defense capability.

Igor Zotyko has been charged with alleged links between his company and the aggressor state. The investigation claims that the company's revenues could have funneled through Cyprus to the Russian Federation. The case materials contain documents that, according to the defense, are not credible and are associated with Russian entities.

The entrepreneur's lawyers emphasize that the accusations are based on assumptions and contradict the facts:

• Zotyko's company is an independent Ukrainian legal entity that operates strictly within the law.
• Since the onset of the war, the company has paid over 1.338 billion hryvnias in taxes to the Ukrainian budget.
• 121.7 million hryvnias have been allocated for charity and humanitarian assistance.

Furthermore, the Cypriot company GURUFLOW TEAM LTD, which partners with Zotyko's business, is owned by a Ukrainian citizen and has no ties to Russian structures.

Igor Zotyko's Charitable Activities

Zotyko is widely recognized for his charitable work in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the civilian population. Among his initiatives:

• Allocation of 8.5 million hryvnias for Sea Baby marine drones to protect Ukrainian waters.
• Delivery of 300 tons of humanitarian aid to frontline communities.
• Funding of the ASKOLD training center, which has prepared over 15,000 military personnel according to NATO standards.

Legal Collisions

The case against Zotyko is being examined under Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“Assistance to the Aggressor State”), which was introduced in April 2022. The investigation claims that the “preparation for the crime” has been ongoing since 2021, which contradicts the principle of the law's temporal application.

The defense also notes that Article 111-2 is under the jurisdiction of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), yet the investigation is being conducted by other law enforcement agencies, which may indicate procedural violations.

Next Steps

Zotyko's lawyers plan to appeal this decision and seek a change in the preventive measure. Public representatives who offered to stand as guarantors for the entrepreneur are calling for a fair examination of the case.